Electronic device

ABSTRACT

A receiving unit acquires a zoom instruction to enlarge or reduce a displayed image. An image processing unit is provided with a function of enlarging or reducing a displayed image in accordance with a zoom instruction. A zoom processing unit can enlarge or reduce a displayed image until the zoom factor of the displayed image reaches the limit. If the zoom factor of a displayed image reaches the limit, the indicator generating unit generates an indicator for notifying a user thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electronic device provided with afunction of enlarging/reducing a displayed image.

2. Description of the Related Art

Electronic devices such as portable game devices, Personal DigitalAssistants (PDAs), or the like have become popular. A number ofelectronic devices are equipped with a communication function. Further,multi-functional electronic devices such as smart phones, which combinethe functions of mobile phones, PDAs, or the like in one device, havecome on the market. On such electronic devices, high capacity memory anda high speed processor are installed so as to store content such astaken photos or the like, and to display a content image on a display.

Electronic devices having touch panels provide an excellent userinterface that allows a user to operate intuitively. Typical userinterfaces include for example, a user interface that displays, as aresult of tapping by a finger on a content image in thumbnail, thecontent image in full size of the panel, or a user interface thatscrolls a displayed image as a result of stroking the surface of apanel. In recent years, electronic devices have also come on the marketthat are provided with a multi-touch screen having a function ofdetecting a plurality of points touched concurrently, and userinterfaces have also been put into practical use that allow a displayedimage to be zoomed in (enlarged) or zoomed out (reduced) by a pinchoperation by the user.

[PATENT DOCUMENTS No. 1] US Patent Application No. 2002-0112018

For a zoom process, an upper limit and a lower limit of a zoom factor isset sometimes. This is because unlimited zoom-in leads an image soenlarged that an image eventually displayed in full screen cannot begrasped what it is, and because unlimited zoom-out leads to an image sosmall that the image that is eventually displayed on a screen cannot beseen. Therefore, defining the limits of a zoom factor is effective froma viewpoint of providing a meaningful image.

Meanwhile, if a zoom factor of a displayed image reaches a limit by thepinch operation by the user, the zoom of the displayed image stops atthe instant. Since this sudden stop of the zoom process may causediscomfort to users, there is scope for an improvement of some sort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In this background, a purpose of the present invention is to provide animproved technology used when stopping a zoom process.

In order to address the aforementioned issue, an electronic device isprovided. The electronic device includes: a receiving unit operative toacquire a zoom instruction to enlarge or reduce a displayed image; andan image processing unit operative to enlarge or reduce the displayedimage in accordance with the zoom instruction, wherein the imageprocessing unit includes: a zoom processing unit capable of enlarging orreducing the displayed image until the zoom factor of the displayedimage reaches a limit; and an indicator generating unit operative, ifthe zoom factor of the displayed image reaches the limit, to generate anindicator that notifies a user thereof.

Optional combinations of the aforementioned constituting elements, andimplementations of the invention in the form of methods, apparatuses,systems, recording mediums, computer programs, or the like may also bepracticed as additional modes of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows the front of an electronic device and FIG. 1B shows therear of the electronic device;

FIG. 2A shows the top view of the electronic device, FIG. 2B shows thebottom view of the electronic device, and FIG. 2C shows the left sideview of the electronic device;

FIG. 3 shows the circuit configuration of the electronic device;

FIG. 4 shows functional blocks of the electronic device.

FIG. 5 shows an initial image;

FIGS. 6A-C show diagrams for illustrating a pinch operation;

FIG. 7 shows a state where a frame is displayed on the edge of adisplay;

FIG. 8 shows a state where a frame is displayed on the edge of thedisplay;

FIG. 9 shows a state where a frame is displayed on the edge of thedisplay;

FIG. 10 shows a state where a frame is displayed on the edge of thedisplay; and

FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of an indicator display process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described by reference to the preferredembodiments. This does not intend to limit the scope of the presentinvention, but to exemplify the invention.

An electronic device according to the exemplary embodiment is aninformation terminal device provided with an image processing functionfor enlarging or reducing a displayed image. For example, the electronicdevice is a portable game device or a smart phone, and is capable ofenlarging or reducing a captured image or an image acquired from aserver by installing an image processing application. An image to bezoomed is not limited to a still image but can be a moving image.

An explanation will be given below on the external structure and thecircuit configuration of an electronic device according to the exemplaryembodiment. Although the electronic device illustrated in the followingis a portable game device, the electronic device may be another type ofhand-held terminal device, or may be a console terminal device.

[Structure of the Front Face]

FIG. 1A shows the front of the electronic device 10. The electronicdevice 10 is formed into a horizontally long housing. The right and leftsides of the housing, which are held by a user, have an arc-shaped outersurface. On the front surface of the electronic device 10 is provided arectangular touch panel 50. The touch panel 50 comprises a displaydevice 20 and a front touch pad 21 that is transparent and covers thesurface of the display device 20. The display device 20 is an organicElectro-Luminescence (EL) panel having a screen aspect ratio of 16:9,and displays an image. Alternatively, the display device 20 may be adisplay means such as a liquid crystal panel or the like. The fronttouch pad 21 is a multi-touch pad having a function of detecting aplurality of points touched concurrently. The touch panel 50 isconfigured as a multi-touch screen.

At the right of the touch panel 50 are provided a triangle button 22 a,a circle button 22 b, a cross button 22 c, and a square button 22 d(hereinafter referred to as “control buttons 22” when referredcollectively). The buttons are located at the vertices of a rhombus,respectively. At the left of the touch panel 50 are provided an up key23 a, a left key 23 b, a down key 23 c, and a right key 23 d(hereinafter referred to as “directional keys 23” when referredcollectively). A user can input eight directions (up, down, left, andright directions, and diagonal directions) by manipulating thedirectional keys 23. Below the directional keys 23, a left stick 24 a isprovided, and below the control buttons 22, a right stick 24 b isprovided. A user tilts the left stick 24 a or the right stick 24 b(herein after referred to as “analogue sticks 24” when referredcollectively) so as to input the direction and the degree of the tilt.On the upper left and upper right of the housing, an L button 26 a andan R button 26 b are provided, respectively. The control buttons 22, thedirectional keys 23, the analogue sticks 24, the L button 26 a, and theR button 26 b implement manipulation means for user manipulation.

In the vicinity of the control buttons 22, a front camera 30 isprovided. At the left of the left stick 24 a and at the right of theright stick 24 b, a left speaker 25 a and a right speaker 25 b (hereinafter referred to as “speakers 25” when referred collectively) thatoutput sound are provided respectively. Further, below the left stick 24a is provided a HOME button 27 and below the right stick 24 b areprovided a START button 28 and a SELECT button 29.

[Structure of the Rear Face]

FIG. 1B shows the rear of the electronic device 10. On the rear surfaceof the electronic device 10, a rear camera 31 and a rear touch pad 32are provided. In a similar manner as that of the front touch pad 21, therear touch pad 32 is configured as a multi-touch pad. Two cameras andtwo touch pads are mounted on the electronic device 10 at the front andrear surfaces.

[Structure of the Top Surface]

FIG. 2A shows the top view of the electronic device 10. As describedpreviously, at the left and right edges of the top surface of theelectronic device 10 are provided the L button 26 a and the R button 26b, respectively. At the right of the L button 26 a, a power button 33 isprovided. A user turns the power on or off by pressing the power button33. The electronic device 10 is provided with a power control functionthat makes a transition to a suspend state if a time period during whichthe manipulation means is not operated (non-operation time period) lastsfor a predetermined time period. If the electronic device 10 enters thesuspend state, a user can return the electronic device 10 from thesuspend state to an awake state by pressing the power button 33.

A game card slot 34 is a slot for inserting a game card. FIG. 3A showsthe game card slot 34 that is covered by a slot cover. In the vicinityof the game card slot 34, an LED lamp may be provided that blinks when agame card is accessed. An accessory terminal 35 is a terminal forconnecting a peripheral device (accessory). FIG. 3A shows the accessoryterminal 35 that is covered by a terminal cover. Between the accessoryterminal 35 and the R button 26 b are provided a minus button 36 a and aplus button 36 b for adjusting volume.

[Structure of the Bottom Surface]

FIG. 2B shows the bottom view of the electronic device 10. A memory cardslot 37 is a slot for inserting a memory card. FIG. 3B shows the memorycard slot 37 that is covered by a slot cover. On the bottom surface ofthe electronic device 10 are provided an audio input and output terminal38, a microphone 39, and a multi-use terminal 40. The multi-use terminal40 supports Universal Serial Bus (USB), and can be connected to anotherdevice via a USB cable.

[Structure of the Left Side]

FIG. 2C shows the left side view of the electronic device 10. On theleft side face of the electronic device 10 is provided a SIM card slot41, which is a slot for inserting a SIM card.

[Circuit Configuration of the Electronic Device]

FIG. 3 shows the circuit configuration of the electronic device 10.Respective elements thereof are connected to one another via a bus 92. Awireless communication module 71 comprises a wireless LAN module thatcomplies with a communication standard such as IEEE802.11b/g or thelike. The wireless communication module 71 is connected to an externalnetwork via an AP2. The wireless communication module 71 may be providedwith a Bluetooth (registered trademark) protocol communication function.A mobile phone module 72 supports the 3rd Generation digital mobilephone system that complies with the International MobileTelecommunication Standard 2000 (IMT-2000) defined by the InternationalTelecommunication Union (ITU). The mobile phone module 72 is connectedto a mobile phone network 4. Inserted in the SIM card slot 41 is a SIMcard 74, on which unique ID numbers for identifying the telephone numberof a mobile phone is stored. As a result of the SIM card 74 beinginserted in the SIM card slot 41, the mobile phone module 72 cancommunicate with the mobile phone network 4.

A Central Processing Unit (CPU) 60 executes a program or the like loadedonto a main memory 64. A Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) 62 performscalculations required for image processing. The main memory 64 isconfigured with Random Access Memory (RAM) or the like, and stores aprogram and/or data to be used by the CPU 60. A storage 66 is configuredwith a NAND-type flash memory or the like, and is utilized as a built-inauxiliary storage device. The display device 20 outputs an imagegenerated by the not limited to a still image but or the like.

A motion sensor 67 detects the movement of the electronic device 10, anda geomagnetic sensor 68 detects earth-geomagnetism in each of thethree-axis directions. A GPS control unit 69 receives signals from theGPS satellites and calculates the current position. The front camera 30and the rear camera 31 capture an image and input the image datathereof. The front camera 30 and the rear camera 31 are configured witha Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor.

In an interface 90, a controller unit 70 includes various manipulationmeans provided in the electronic device 10. More specifically, thecontroller unit 70 includes the control buttons 22, the directional keys23, the analogue sticks 24, the L button 26 a, the R button 26 b, theHOME button 27, the START button 28, the SELECT button 29, the powerbutton 33, the minus button 36 a, and the plus button 36 b. The fronttouch pad 21 and the rear touch pad 32 are a multi-touch pad. The fronttouch pad 21 is arranged so as to be overlaid on the surface of thedisplay device 20. The speaker 25 outputs sound generated by respectivefunctions of the electronic device 10. The microphone 39 inputs soundfrom around the electronic device 10. The audio input and outputterminal 38 inputs stereo sound from an external microphone and outputsstereo sound to an external headphone or the like.

In the game card slot 34, a game card 76 that stores a game file isinserted. The game card 76 is provided with a storage area where datacan be written. If the game card 76 is placed in the game card slot 34,data is written/read by a media drive. In the memory card slot 37, amemory card 78 is inserted. When the memory card 78 is placed into thememory card slot 37, the memory card 78 is utilized as an externalauxiliary storage device. The multi-use terminal 40 can be utilized as aUSB terminal. The multi-use terminal 40 is connected to a USB cable 80and transmits data to and receives data from another USB device. To theaccessory terminal 35, a peripheral device is connected.

FIG. 4 shows functional blocks of an electronic device 10 that isprovided with an image processing function according to the exemplaryembodiment. The electronic device 10 comprises a receiving unit 100, animage processing unit 110, and a storage 130. Those elements areimplemented by a CPU of a computer, memory, a program loaded into thememory, or the like in terms of hardware components. FIG. 3 depictsfunctional blocks implemented by cooperation of these components.Therefore, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that thefunctional blocks may be implemented in a variety of ways, by hardwareonly, software only, or a combination thereof.

The receiving unit 100 receives an operation input by a user via thecontroller unit 70, the front touch pad 21, and/or the rear touch pad32. According to the exemplary embodiment, the receiving unit 100acquires a zoom instruction to enlarge or reduce a displayed image. Theimage processing unit 110 is provided with a function of scaling up/downa displayed image in accordance with a zoom instruction, and is providedwith an image data reading unit 112, an initial image generating unit114, a zoom processing unit 116, and an indicator generating unit 118.The storage 130 stores image data, and may be for example a memory card78. Hereinafter, an explanation will be given on an example where thereceiving unit 100 acquires a zoom instruction from the front touch pad21.

In case that a plurality of thumbnail images are displayed on thedisplay device 20, if a user taps on one of the thumbnail images, thefront touch pad 21 detects the coordinates of a tapped position, and thereceiving unit 100 provides the coordinates of the position to the imageprocessing unit 110. The image data reading unit 112 reads out imagedata specified by the coordinates of the position from the storage 130,and the initial image generating unit 114 generates an initial image onthe basis of the read image data.

FIG. 5 shows the initial image displayed on the display device 20. Theinitial image generating unit 114 adjusts the size of the imageaccording to the size of the display device 20 and according to thescreen aspect ratio of the display device 20 so that the entire image ofthe read image data fits into the screen. In this process, the initialimage generating unit 114 generates the initial image so that the imageis displayed in full size in at least one of the vertical direction orthe horizontal direction of the screen. Therefore, in case that thescreen aspect ratio (horizontal/vertical ratio) of the display device 20is 16:9, if the aspect ratio (horizontal/vertical ratio) of the wholeimage is 16:9, the initial image is displayed in full size of thedisplay device 20. In the same case if the aspect ratio of the entireimage is larger than 16:9, the initial image is displayed fully from theleft edge to the right edge of the display device 20, meanwhile theupper part or the lower part of the display device 20 is filled inpredetermined color (e.g., in black). In the same case if the aspectratio of the whole image is smaller than 16:9, the initial image isdisplayed fully from the top edge to the bottom edge of the displaydevice 20, meanwhile the right side or the left side of the displaydevice 20 is filled in predetermined color. In this manner, the initialimage generating unit 114 generates an initial image as a maximum entireimage on the display device 20.

A user inputs a pinch operation by putting two fingers or a finger and athumb on the front touch pad 21 that is overlaid on the display device20, and by changing the distance between the two fingers or between thefinger and the thumb. According to the exemplary embodiment, the pinchoperation makes a zoom instruction for zooming in (enlarging) adisplayed image or zooming out (reducing) the image.

FIGS. 6A-C show diagrams for illustrating the pinch operation. FIG. 6Ashows an initial state where two fingers or a finger and a thumb are puton the front touch pad 21. Touch points 94 a and 94 b indicate initialpositions of the two fingers or the finger and the thumb, respectively.When the two fingers or the finger and the thumb touch the front touchpad 21 for the first time, the length L0 between the touch points 94 aand 94 b is measured. While the two fingers or the finger and the thumbkeep touching the front touch pad 21, the distance between the twofingers or the finger and the thumb is measured constantly.

FIG. 6B shows a state where the space between the two fingers or thefinger and the thumb is widened from the initial state. Touch points 95a and 95 b indicate positions of the two fingers or the finger and thethumb, respectively. The distance between the touch points 95 a and 95 bis measured as the length of L1. The pinch operation of widening thespace between two fingers or a finger and a thumb is called “pinch open(pinch out),” and makes a zoom instruction for zooming in (enlarging) adisplayed image.

FIG. 6C shows a state where the space between the two fingers or thefinger and the thumb is narrowed from the initial state. Touch points 96a and 96 b indicate positions of the two fingers or the finger and thethumb, respectively. The distance between the touch points 96 a and 65 bis measured as the length of L2. The pinch operation of narrowing thespace between two fingers or a finger and a thumb is called “pinch close(pinch in),” and makes a zoom instruction for zooming out (reducing) adisplayed image.

In a zooming operation, a length to the length L0 of an initial state isan element that determines the zoom factor of an image to be displayed.That is, in the example shown in FIG. 6B, (L1/L0) is an element thatdetermines the zoom factor, and in the example shown in FIG. 6C, (L2/L0)is an element that determines the zoom factor.

If the front touch pad 21 detects that two fingers or a finger and athumb touch the pad, the front touch pad 21 provides respective touchpoints thereof (the coordinates of the positions) to the receiving unit100. The receiving unit 100 measures the length L0 between the touchpoints in the initial state, and retains the length L0 as a referencefor determining the zoom factor. The receiving unit 100 monitors thelength La between the touch points and obtains the value (La/L0) bycalculations so as to acquire a zoom instruction. The acquired zoominstruction is passed to the zoom processing unit 116.

The zoom processing unit 116 is provided with a function of enlarging orreducing a displayed image in accordance with a zoom instruction. Asdescribed previously, the upper limit and the lower limit are determinedfor the zoom factor of a displayed image in advance. The zoom factor isdefined with reference to the size of an initial image.

<The Lower Limit of a Zoom Factor>

The lower limit of a zoom factor is “1.” Therefore, a user can notfurther reduce an initial image.

<The Upper Limit of a Zoom Factor>

The upper limit of a zoom factor is “4.” Therefore, a user can enlargean initial image up to four times as large as the initial image. Thelower limit and the upper limit are intended to be illustrative only andother appropriate values may also be adopted.

The ratio of the upper limit to the lower limit of a zoom factor is “4.”Therefore, the maximum enlargement factor when enlarging a displayedimage is four, and the maximum reduction factor when reducing adisplayed image is four (i.e., the minimum enlargement factor is ¼). Forexample, assume a case where an enlargement factor is maximized when(La/L0)=1.5, and the enlargement factor is minimized when (La/L0)=0.5.In order to enlarge an initial image four times as large as the initialimage, a user sets La=1.5 times L0 or more by a pinch open operation,and in order to reduce the maximum image to the initial image, user setsLa=0.5 times L0 or less by a pinch close operation. By such pinchoperations, a user can zoom a displayed image in a range between thelower limit and the upper limit.

Although the zoom processing unit 116 can enlarge or reduce a displayedimage until the zoom factor of the displayed image reaches a limit (theupper limit or the lower limit) thereof, the zoom processing unit 116stops the zoom process of the displayed image if the zoom factor reachesthe limit thereof.

In the initial image shown in FIG. 5, even if a user makes a pinch closeoperation, the zoom processing unit 116 does not perform reductionprocess of the initial image, because the lower limit of the zoom factoris set to “1.”

In a state where the initial image shown in FIG. 5 is displayed, a usercan input a valid zoom instruction to enlarge the initial image by apinch open operation. In a state where an enlarged image of the initialimage is displayed, a user can input a valid zoom instruction to reducethe image by a pinch close operation.

The indicator generating unit 118 generates an indicator for notifying auser that the zoom factor reaches a limit if the zoom factor of adisplayed image reaches the limit and if a zoom instruction to enlargeor reduce the image beyond the limit of the zoom factor is further inputby the user. Therefore, in a state where an initial image is displayed,if the receiving unit 100 receives a zoom instruction to reduce anddisplay an image, the indicator generating unit 118 generates anindicator that shows that the zoom factor of the displayed image hasreached the limit (lower limit) thereof. In a state where an initialimage is enlarged to 400% and displayed, if the receiving unit 100receives a zoom instruction to enlarge and display an image, theindicator generating unit 118 generates an indicator that shows that thezoom factor of the displayed image has reached the limit (upper limit)thereof. The indicators generated in case that the zoom factor of thedisplayed image has reached the upper limit or the lower limit may be acommon indicator, or may be different indicators.

As an example of the indicator, the indicator generating unit 118generates a frame surrounding a displayed image and displays the frameon the display device 20. This frame is displayed on the edge of thedisplay device 20 so as not to hinder the displayed image. After thezoom factor reaches the limit thereof, if the receiving unit 100 furtherreceives a zoom instruction in the direction of exceeding the limit ofthe zoom factor, the indicator generating unit 118 gradually(continuously) broadens the width of the frame up to a predeterminedvalue in accordance with the zoom instruction.

FIG. 7 shows a state where the indicator generating unit 118 displays aframe on the edge of a display. In a state where an initial image isdisplayed (i.e., in a state where the zoom factor reaches the lowerlimit), if the receiving unit 100 receives a zoom instruction to reducethe image, the indicator generating unit 118 displays a frame 140 aalong the edge of the display. The frame 140 a is preferably translucentor partially translucent so that a user can recognize an image displayedunder the frame 140 a. In this manner, by displaying the frame 140 aalong the edge of the display, the user can recognize that the displayedimage can not be reduced further while viewing the displayed image.

FIG. 8 shows a state where the indicator generating unit 118 displays aframe on the edge of a display. In the state where the zoom factor hasreached the lower limit thereof, if the receiving unit 100 continuouslyreceives a zoom instruction to reduce an image, the indicator generatingunit 118 gradually broadens the width of the frame up to a predeterminedvalue. In this context, “to continuously receive a zoom instruction”means to receive a zoom instruction to reduce an image for a pluralityof times consecutively. FIG. 8 shows a state where the frame 140 b isbroadened up to the maximum width. By broadening the width of the framein accordance with the zoom instruction, a user can readily recognizethe existence of the frame. Thus, the frame can show the user that adisplayed image can not be reduced further. In addition, by allowing thewidth of the frame to follow the movement of fingers or a finger and athumb of a user, a user interface can be implemented that fits intuitivefeel of the user when the user makes an operation. Once the width of theframe 140 b reaches its maximum, the width of the frame 140 b does notchange thereafter even if the receiving unit 100 receives a zoominstruction.

FIG. 9 shows a state where the indicator generating unit 118 displays aframe on the edge of a display. In a state where an initial image isenlarged by 400 percent (i.e., in a state where the zoom factor reachesthe upper limit), if the receiving unit 100 receives a zoom instructionto enlarge the image, the indicator generating unit 118 displays a frame140 a along the edge of the display.

FIG. 10 shows a state where the indicator generating unit 118 displays aframe on the edge of a display. In the state where the zoom factor hasreached the upper limit thereof, if the receiving unit 100 continuouslyreceives a zoom instruction to enlarge an image, the indicatorgenerating unit 118 gradually broadens the width of the frame up to apredetermined value. FIG. 10 shows a state where the frame 140 b isbroadened up to the maximum width. By broadening the width of the framein accordance with a zoom instruction, a user can readily recognize theexistence of the frame. Thus, the frame can show the user that adisplayed image can not be enlarged further. Once the width of the frame140 b reaches its maximum, the width of the frame 140 b does not changethereafter even if the receiving unit 100 receives a zoom instruction.In this manner, in a state where the zoom factor reaches the lower limitor the upper limit thereof, if a user inputs a further zoom instruction,the zoom processing unit 116 stops the zoom process and the indicatorgenerating unit 118 generates an indicator. Thereby, the user canintuitively recognize that no further zoom operation is allowed.

The frame 140 is formed in predetermined color (e.g., in white) and ispreferably configured so that a user can see an image displayed underthe frame. The frame 140 may have a gradation pattern that variesgradually from low brightness at the edge of the display to highbrightness at the inner side of the display.

In response to a further zoom instruction after the zoom factor reachesthe limit, the indicator generating unit 118 gradually broadens theframe 140, and increases the brightness level so that the frame becomesnoticeable gradually. Thereby, a user can readily recognize that thezoom factor has reached the limit.

Although in the example described above, the indicator generating unit118 displays the frame 140 on the edge of a display as an indicator, theindicator generating unit 118 may display the frame 140 on the edge of adisplayed image. The indicator generating unit 118 may also display apredetermined message as an indicator by overlaying the message on thedisplayed image. For example, the indicator generating unit 118 maydisplay a message “the image can not be reduced anymore” in case thatthe zoom factor has reached the lower limit, and may display the messagegradually in a larger size if a zoom instruction to reduce the image isinput further. The indicator generating unit 118 may also adopt as anindicator a display mode where the screen image is dimmed.

FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of an indicator display process. In case thatthe zoom factor of a displayed image has reached the lower limit (Y inS10), if the receiving unit 100 receives an instruction to reduce thedisplayed image (Y in S12), the indicator generating unit 118 generatesan indicator that shows a user that the zoom factor of the displayedimage has reached the limit thereof (S18). On the other hand, if thereceiving unit 100 does not receive an instruction to reduce thedisplayed image (N in S12), the indicator generating unit 118 does notgenerate an indicator.

In case that the zoom factor of a displayed image is larger than thelower limit (N in S10) and the zoom factor has reached the upper limit(Y in S14), if the receiving unit 100 receives an instruction to enlargethe displayed image (Y in S16), the indicator generating unit 118generates an indicator that shows the user that the zoom factor of thedisplayed image has reached the limit thereof (S18). On the other hand,if the receiving unit 100 does not receive an instruction to enlarge thedisplayed image (N in S16), the indicator generating unit 118 does notgenerate an indicator. If the zoom factor is within a range larger thanthe lower limit and smaller than the upper limit (N in S14), the zoomprocessing unit 116 generates an image to be displayed in accordancewith the zoom factor. In this case, since the zoom factor is in anappropriate range, the indicator generating unit 118 does not generatean indicator.

Given above is an explanation based on the exemplary embodiment. Thisembodiment is intended to be illustrative only and it will be obvious tothose skilled in the art that various modifications to constitutingelements and processes could be developed and that such modificationsare also within the scope of the present invention.

According to the exemplary embodiment, a user inputs a zoom instructionby a pinch operation. However, for example in case that a function ofadjusting the size of a displayed image is allocated to the analoguestick 24, a user may input a zoom instruction by tilting the analoguestick 24. In this manner, a zoom instruction for a displayed image maybe input by any means.

With regard to FIG. 6, the zoom factor is determined by using (La/L0)where the length L0 is defined as a distance between the touch points inthe initial state, and the length La is defined as a distance betweenthe touch points after the move of the touch points according to theexemplary embodiment. In a variation thereof, the zoom factor may bedetermined by using (La−L0), which is a difference between La and L0. Ifthe (La−L0) is a positive value, the absolute value of the differencemay be used as a parameter for determining the zoom factor for scalingup and the zoom factor may be determined accordingly. If the (La−L0) isa negative value, the absolute value of the difference may be used as aparameter for determining the zoom factor for scaling down and the zoomfactor may be determined accordingly.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the zoom factor is defined byusing the size of an initial image as a reference. As describedpreviously, the size of the initial image is adjusted so that the entireimage of image data fits into the screen. In a variation of theembodiment, the zoom factor may be defined by using the resolution (thenumber of pixels along the horizontal and vertical sides) of image dataas a reference, that is, by using the size of an original image as areference. Even in this case, the lower limit and the upper limit of thezoom factor is defined in a similar manner but by using the size of theoriginal image as a reference. In this way, the zoom factor may bedefined by using any image size as a reference, as far as the lowerlimit and the upper limit of the zoom factor are defined for thereference.

According to the exemplary embodiment, if the zoom factor reaches thelimit thereof, the zoom processing unit 116 stops the zoom process ofthe displayed image, and if the receiving unit 100 further receives azoom instruction in the direction of exceeding the limit of the zoomfactor, the indicator generating unit 118 generates an indicator. In avariation of the embodiment, the limits of the zoom factor is definedfor an image displayed when no pinch operation is received, and in casethat the receiving unit 100 receives a zoom instruction in the directionof exceeding the limit of the zoom factor, the zoom processing unit 116may continue a zoom process for the displayed image in accordance withthe zoom factor that exceeds the limit. Also in this variation, theindicator generating unit 118 generates an indicator in a similarmanner. In this case, if the pinch operation by the user is completed,the zoom processing unit 116 displays the image that has been displayedwith the upper limit or lower limit zoom factor. Therefore, if the pinchoperation is completed, the image that has been displayed with a zoomfactor exceeding the upper limit or exceeding the lower limit isdisplayed with the upper limit or lower limit zoom factor.

According to the exemplary embodiment an explanation has been given onthe case where the indicator generating unit 118 displays the frame 140in a translucent or partially translucent manner. For example, theindicator generating unit 118 may alpha-blend the frame 140 and adisplayed image. “rate”=(La/L0) is calculated where the length L0 isdefined as a distance between the touch points in the initial state, andthe length La is defined as a distance between the touch points afterthe move of the touch points. The opacity of the frame 140 is set as α %and the opacity of the displayed image is set as (100−α) %.

An explanation will be given in the following on a method for deriving αin two cases.

(1) In case that an instruction for scaling down with the zoom factorthat exceeds the lower limit is input,R=(1.0−rate)+β (e.g., β=0.3).

In case of R>1, R is set to R=1.

In this manner, R is derived from “rate”, and α is calculated whilesetting α=R. By calculating α in this manner, α becomes larger as areduction rate becomes larger (enlargement rate becomes smaller) with azoom factor exceeding the lower limit, thus the opacity of the frame 140becomes higher.

(2) Assume a case that an instruction for scaling up with the zoomfactor that exceeds the upper limit is input, where the screen diagonalof the display device 20 is set to Lmax. In this case,R=(rate−1.0)times(La/Lmax).

In case of R>1, R is set to R=1.

In this manner, R is derived from “rate”, and α is calculated whilesetting α=R.

By calculating α in this manner, α becomes larger as the enlargementrate becomes larger with a zoom factor exceeding the upper limit, thusthe opacity of the frame 140 becomes higher.

By performing an alpha blending process in the manner described above,in case that a further zoom instruction that exceeds the limit of thezoom factor is input, by thickening the color of the frame 140 (i.e., byincreasing the opacity caused by the frame 140) gradually, a user canrecognize the change in colors, and the user can readily recognize thatthe displayed image reaches a zoom limit.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic device comprising: a receiving unitoperative to acquire a zoom instruction to continuously enlarge orreduce a displayed image; and an image processing unit operative tocontinuously enlarge or reduce the displayed image in accordance withthe zoom instruction, wherein the image processing unit comprises: azoom processing unit capable of executing the instruction tocontinuously enlarge or reduce the displayed image from an initial zoomfactor, consecutively through one or more larger or smaller zoomfactors, until the zoom factor of the displayed image reaches a zoomfactor limit; and an indicator generating unit operative, if the zoomfactor of the displayed image reaches the limit as a result of theexecution of the instruction and the instruction includes an instructionto continuously enlarge or reduce the image beyond the limit, togenerate an indicator that notifies a user thereof that the zoom factorhas reached the limit; wherein during the notification, the indicatorgradually obscures at least a portion of the image, at least one aspectof the indicator gradually increases in at least one of size andbrightness, and the image maintains a same zoom factor.
 2. Theelectronic device according to claim 1, wherein the indicator generatingunit displays a frame that surrounds the displayed image.
 3. Theelectronic device according to claim 2, wherein the indicator generatingunit displays the frame on the edge of a display.
 4. The electronicdevice according to claim 2, wherein the indicator generating unitgradually broadens the width of the frame up to a predetermined value inaccordance with the zoom instruction.
 5. The electronic device accordingto claim 2, wherein the indicator generating unit generates the framethat is translucent or partially translucent.
 6. A non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium encoded with a program comprising: amodule configured to acquire a zoom instruction from a user; a moduleconfigured to continuously enlarge or reduce a displayed image, inaccordance with the zoom instruction, from an initial zoom factor,consecutively through one or more larger or smaller zoom factors; and amodule configured, if the zoom factor of the displayed image reaches azoom factor limit as a result of the execution of the instruction andthe instruction includes an instruction to continuously enlarge orreduce the image beyond the limit, to generate an indicator thatnotifies a user thereof that the zoom factor has reached the limit,wherein during the notification, the indicator gradually obscures atleast a portion of the image, at least one aspect of the indicatorgradually increases in at least one of size and brightness, and theimage maintains a same zoom factor.
 7. An apparatus comprising amicroprocessor operating under the control of a computer program toimplement a method comprising: acquiring a zoom instruction from a user;continuously enlarging or reducing a displayed image, in accordance withthe zoom instruction, from an initial zoom factor, consecutively throughone or more larger or smaller zoom factors; and if the zoom factor ofthe displayed image reaches a zoom factor limit as a result of theexecution of the instruction and the instruction includes an instructionto continuously enlarge or reduce the image beyond the limit, generatingan indicator that notifies a user thereof that the zoom factor hasreached the limit, wherein during the notification, the indicatorgradually obscures at least a portion of the image, at least one aspectof the indicator gradually increases in at least one of size andbrightness, and the image maintains a same zoom factor.